Millions suffer from major depressive disorders and almost
half are the elderly. Depression later in life tends to
last longer and be more severe than at younger ages. It
is also associated with a high rate of suicide.
Previously, it was thought that major depression was
secondary to a deficiency in certain neurotransmitters
in the brain, particularly the monoamines, which include
serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. While alterations
in these important mood-related neurotransmitters is found
with major depression, growing evidence indicates that
the primary culprit is low-grade, chronic brain inflammation.
In addition, we now know that inflammatory cytokines can
lower serotonin significantly and for long periods by
a number of different mechanisms.
Researchers have also discovered that most people with
major depressive disease (MDD) have higher levels of the
neurotransmitter glutamate in their spinal fluid (CSF)
and blood plasma. This is the same glutamate found as
a food additive-for example, MSG (monosodium glutamate),
hydrolyzed proteins, calcium or sodium casienate, soy
protein isolate, vegetable protein concentrate or isolate,
etc. Much of the free glutamate in the brain of depressed
people comes from within, that is it escapes from special
cells within the brain itself (microglia and astrocytes).
Free glutamate, that is, existing outside the neurons,
is very toxic to brain connections and brain cells themselves
-- mainly by a process called excitotoxicity.
This connection between high brain glutamate levels and
major depression was discovered quite by accident, when
researchers observed that the anesthetic drug ketamine
could relieve depression for a prolonged period. Ketamine
is a powerful blocking drug for a class of glutamate receptors
(NMDA receptors).
For quite some time it was known that depression could
cause a loss of neurons in the hippocampus of the brain-the
area most important for recent memory (declarative memory
or working memory), the form of memory most affected in
Alzheimer’s disease. This shrinkage of the brain
usually occurred with long-term depression, yet it was
shown, using sophisticated testing, that even without
brain shrinkage, memory could be adversely affected. Some
antidepressants could not only reverse the memory loss
but could reverse the shrinkage as well.
The implication was that the elevated brain glutamate,
via excitotoxicity, was destroying brain connections and
later killing brain cells in the hippocampus and that
the antidepressants were lowering brain glutamate levels.
Subsequent studies have confirmed that drugs that block
excitotoxicity also reduce depression and that some antidepressants
reduce brain glutamate levels.
The Link Between Elevated Brain Glutamate and Inflammation
A tremendous amount of research has now demonstrated
the link between chronic low-level brain inflammation,
elevated brain glutamate levels and major depression.
We know that as we age, the level of inflammatory immune
cytokines increase (such as interleukin-1ß (IL-1),
IL-6 and TNF-a). That is, the level of inflammation in
our body increases, with high levels being seen at the
extremes of life -- the 80s and 90s.
This progressive elevation in the body’s inflammation
increases our risk of a number of inflammation-linked
diseases, such as cancer, arthritis, muscle weakness,
fatigue, sleep disturbances, memory loss and confusion.
People with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease
have even higher levels of these inflammatory cytokines
-- much higher.
When inflammatory chemicals are elevated in the brain
it makes brain cells more vulnerable to a number of toxins,
many of which are in the environment. One study demonstrated,
using a series of sophisticated techniques, that if brain
cells were exposed to low levels of a pesticide there
was little toxicity seen and that if you exposed these
same brain cells to an immune stimulant alone, little
damage occurred. But if you first exposed the brain cells
to the immune stimulant, the same low dose of pesticide
could destroy a great number of brain cells.
The importance of this observation was that the vaccine
made the brain cells hypersensitive to the toxin so that
even in concentrations that normally would do not cause
harm, could wiped out most of the neurons. One of the
strongest connections between an environmental toxin (pesticides)
and a neurological disorder is with Parkinson’s disease.
The reason it is more common in the elderly is that they
have the highest levels of inflammatory cytokines. This
also explains the high incidence of Alzheimer’s disease,
which reaches incidences of 50% after age 80.
The link depression was also by accident. Doctors using
immune cytokines to treat patients with cancer or hepatitis
found that one third of the patients developed major depressive
illness within days of the treatment and that it resolved
only when the treatment was terminated. Other studies,
in which inflammatory cytokine levels were measured in
people with major depressive illness, also found most
had high levels of these inflammatory chemicals.
To their surprise, they found that many of the antidepressant
medications commonly used lowered inflammatory cytokines
levels and that patients who failed to respond had the
highest level of the cytokines.
So, how is this linked to excitotoxicity? Neuroscientists
have known for some time that inflammatory cytokines cause
the brain to release higher levels of glutamate -- the
more intense the inflammation, the higher the brain glutamate
level. The highest levels are found in the prefrontal
lobes and limbic system, the areas most related to mood
control. MSG also increases brain inflammation.
Vaccination and Brain Inflammation
A great number of studies have shown that when you vaccinate
an animal, the body’s inflammatory cytokines not
only increase dramatically, but so do the brain’s
inflammatory chemicals. The brain has its own immune system
that is intimately connected to the body’s immune
system. The main immune cell in the brain is called a
microglia. Normally, these brain cells are lying throughout
the brain in a resting state (called ramified). Once activated,
they can move around, traveling between brain cells like
amoeba (called amoeboid microglia).
In the resting state, they release chemicals that support
the growth and protection of brain cells and their connections
(dendrites and synapses). But when activated, they secrete
a number of very harmful chemicals, including inflammatory
cytokines, chemokines, complement, free radicals, lipid
peroxidation products, and two excitotoxins -- glutamate
and quinolinic acid.
In essence, these brain immune cells are out to kill
invaders, since the body’s immune system sent an
emergency message that an invasion had occurred. With
most infections, this phase of activation last no more
than a few days to two weeks, during which time the immune
system successfully kills off the invaders. Once that
is accomplished, the immune system shuts down to allow
things to cool off and the brain to repair what damage
was done by its own immune system.
What researchers knew was that during this period of
activation, people generally feel bad and that what they
experience closely resembles depression -- a condition
called “sickness behavior”. Most of us have
experience this when suffering from a viral illness --
such things as restlessness, irritability, a need to get
away from people, trouble sleeping, fatigue and difficulty
thinking.
Studies have shown that there are two phases to this
“sickness behavior”; one in which we have the
flu-like symptoms and a later onset of depression-like
symptoms that can last awhile. They have also shown that
all of these symptoms are due to high levels of inflammatory
cytokines in the brain, which come from activated microglia.
A number of studies have also shown that after age 50,
people have exaggerated and prolonged “sickness behavior”,
much more so than younger people. This is one of the reasons
why many elderly hang onto flu symptoms for months after
exposure.
There is also another immune phenomenon that plays a
major role in vaccine-related brain injury. Researchers
discovered that when you vaccinate an animal, the brain
microglia immune cells turn on partially (called priming),
that is, they are in a state of high readiness. If the
immune system is activated again soon after (days, weeks
to months), these microglia explode into action secreting
levels of their destructive chemicals far higher than
normal. This overreaction can be very destructive and
make you feel very depressed.
Stimulating the immune system with a vaccine is far different
than contracting an infectious illness naturally. Vaccines
are made of two components -- the agent you wish to vaccinate
against -- for example, the measles virus; and an immune
system booster called an immune adjuvant. These adjuvants
are composed of such things as aluminum compounds, MSG,
lipid compounds and even mercury. Their job is to make
the immune system react as intensely as possible and for
as long as possible.
Studies have shown that these adjuvants, from a single
vaccine, can cause immune overactivation for as long as
two years. This means that the brain microglia remain
active as well, continuously pouring out destructive chemicals.
In fact, one study found that a single injection of an
immune activating substance could cause brain immune overactivation
for over a year. This is very destructive.
Flu Vaccines and An Expanding Vaccine Schedule for
the Elderly
Public health authorities and physician societies are
in an all out campaign to have every elderly person vaccinated
every year with the flu vaccine as well as a growing number
of newer vaccines. When I was practicing neurosurgery,
the hospitals had an automatic written order on all older
patients’ charts mandating a flu vaccine, unless
it was countermanded by the physician, which I always
did. Now, they are giving the shots in malls, tents and
every available site they can muster. And worse still,
using lies and scare tactics to frighten the elderly onto
getting the shots (such as the bold lie of 36,000 elderly
dying of the flu every year).
As you age your immune system, including that special
immune system in your brain, releases significantly more
inflammatory immune cytokines than when you were younger.
This serves to prime the microglia, as discussed. So,
when you get your first flu shot your microglia overreact
and does so for a very long period -- perhaps years. Many
elderly report that the flu shot gave them the flu. Proponents
of vaccines, retort with a condescending laugh, that it
is impossible because the flu vaccine contains killed
flu viruses. In truth, what these people are reporting
is a prolonged, intense “sickness behavior”
response to the vaccine. To the body, it is worse than
getting the flu. Remember, no one is recording the number
of elderly who die after getting the flu shot, especially
if they die months later, which can happen with sickness
behavior, especially if they have a preexisting chronic
illness or are infirm.
Here is the shocking truth. With the elderly already
having increased inflammatory cytokine levels both systemically
and in their brain, stimulating these primed microglia
so that a chronic overstimulation of the brain’s
immune system is triggered, will not only increase their
risk of developing one of the neurodegenerative diseases,
but will also substantially increase their risk of developing
major depression. Remember, this also increases their
risk of suicide and even homicide dramatically.
Anxiety is a major problem with depression, and vaccinations
will greatly worsen the condition. In fact, vaccination,
especially multiple vaccinations, will maintain the brain
in a state of inflammation that will be self-perpetuating,
because the excess release of glutamate in the brain,
as well as glutamate in the diet, will further enhance
microglial activation and excitotoxicity.
Those who are prone to developing one of the neurodegenerative
diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s
disease will be at a drastically increased risk as we
have seen experimentally when even animals exposed to
subtoxic concentrations of environmental toxins and vaccinated
develop neurologic worsening.
Most people use pesticides in their home and studies
have shown that the concentrations in homes are sufficient
to trigger Parkinson’s disease in susceptible people.
Vaccinations, as these studies have shown, will greatly
increase risk. Most doctors are completely unaware of
this important research.
You must keep in mind that “health authorities”
urge the elderly to get the flu vaccine each and every
year. This will keep the microglia in a primed and even
activated state continuously. Recently, neurologists announced
that the incidence of neurodegenerative disease had been
grossly underestimated and that neurological diseases
of aging were increasing at a frightening rate. They have
no explanation. Over the last three decades the number
of elderly receiving yearly flu vaccines has risen from
20% before 1980 to over 60% today.
If this were not depressing enough, now the public health
authorities and medical specialty societies are adding
a whole new set of vaccines for those above 50 years of
age, including the pneumococcal and meningiococcal vaccines.
What is being completely ignored by the promoters of these
vaccines is the effect of multiple doses of immune adjuvant
that accompany each of these vaccines.
Lets, say you see your doctor and he talks you into getting
the flu vaccine, the pneumococcal and meningiococcal vaccine
all during the same office visit. That way, he can save
you extra office visits. What your doctor ignores is that
he is giving you three doses of powerful immune adjuvant
all in one sitting, which means that your body and brain
are assaulted by a massive dose of powerful immune activators,
which have been proven to activate the brain’s immune
system to dangerous levels, even when given as a single
dose. Proof of this mechanism exists not only in animal
studies, but in humans as well.
Mercury and Aluminum
There are other ways that vaccines can cause havoc in
the brain. Most vaccines contain aluminum compounds. A
multitude of studies have shown that aluminum, especially
if combined with fluoride, is a powerful brain toxin and
that it accumulates in the brain. With each vaccine injection,
a dose of aluminum is given. These yearly aluminum inoculations
accumulate not only at the site of the injection, but
travel to the brain, where it enters neurons and glial
cells (astrocytes and microglia). A number of studies
have shown that aluminum can activate microglia and do
so for long periods. This means that the aluminum in your
vaccination is priming your microglia to overreact. The
next vaccine acts to trigger the enhanced inflammatory
reaction and release of the excitotoxins, glutamate and
quinolinic acid.
You must also appreciate that any infection, stroke,
head injury or other toxin exposure will also magnify
this inflammatory brain reaction initially triggered by
your vaccines. Studies have now indicated that the more
one’s immune system is activated the more like he
or she will suffer from one of the neurodegenerative diseases.
Mercury is also a powerful activator of brain microglia
and can do so in extremely low concentrations-in nanomolar
amounts. Because of its numerous reactions with sulfhydral
compounds in the body (which are ubiquitous), mercury
can poison a number of enzymes both systemically and in
the brain. Of special concern is the ability of mercury,
especially ethylmercury (the kind found in vaccines called
thimerosal) to inhibit the regulation of brain glutamate
levels. (It does this by inhibiting the glutamate transfer
proteins that control the removal of glutamate from outside
the neuron, where it does its harm.)
In essence, mercury, in the concentrations being injected
with vaccines, triggers excitotoxicity, increases brain
free radicals and lipid peroxidation products, inhibits
critical brain enzymes, inhibits antioxidant enzymes and
impairs DNA repair ability. The flu vaccine contains enough
mercury to do all of these things. You must keep in mind
that each flu vaccine adds to the mercury supplied by
your last vaccine, that is, it is progressively accumulating
in your brain.
In addition, the aluminum in the vaccines also primes
microglia and when combined with mercury is infinitively
more toxic to the brain. Now, if this is not enough, we
also have to consider the contamination of vaccines with
foreign viruses and viral components. Studies have shown
that this is not a rare occurrence, with up to 60% of
vaccines being contaminated in one study of several major
manufactured vaccines. When confronted with this fact,
vaccine proponents just shrug their shoulders and say
-- “We don’t think these things are harmful.”
Yet, the studies say otherwise. It has been found that
insertion of viral fragments, not even the whole virus,
is sufficient to trigger the brain’s microglial system
and subsequent excitotoxicity, leading to progressive
brain degeneration. This is accepted to be the mechanism
by which the HIV virus causes dementia in a great number
of AIDS victims. Fragments of the virus (gp140 and Tat)
are engulfed by the microglia and this triggers chronic
brain inflammation and excitotoxicity. The herpes virus
and measles virus can do the same thing.
Danger of Live Virus Vaccines
A number of studies have shown that live viruses used
in vaccines can enter the brain and reside there for a
lifetime. One such study, in which autopsied elderly were
examined for the presence of the measles virus, found
that 20% of the brains had live measles viruses and 45%
of other organs were infected. These viruses were highly
mutated, meaning that they could be just as potent as
other measles viruses, but could be even more virulent.
Worse, is that in most cases they cause a smoldering destruction
of tissues without the obvious symptoms of infection,
which has been shown in a number of studies.
Live virus vaccines are made using a process to attenuate
the pathogenic or disease-causing virus by passing it
through a series of cultures. The problem is that the
reverse can also happen within the body. A number of studies
have shown that when we produce free radicals in our body
(and we produce tons of such radicals over a lifetime),
it mutates the viruses residing in our tissues. This is
what was found in the autopsy study I referred to above.
Likewise, these viruses can trigger brain inflammation
and degeneration, which has been shown in a number of
studies-that is, there exist a chronic degeneration of
the brain over years or decades. Because it is so far
separated from the time of the original vaccine, physicians
just attribute it to old age or heredity, anything but
the vaccines.
Virologists are also concerned that such mutated live
viruses can also infect other people, leading to outbreaks
of disease totally unsuspected by health authorities.
Conclusion
Current recommendations by the CDC for adult vaccinations
include a total of 14 separate inoculations with infectious
agents and powerful immune adjuvants. To be fair, some
of these are for special medical risks and conditions,
such as high-risk behaviors, illegal drug use and HIV
infected individuals. If we eliminate these, women will
be exposed to 10 inoculations and men 7, should they follow
CDC guidelines, which doctors follow.
According to CDC recommendations, multiple vaccinations
for a single disease are separated by no more than 4 weeks,
which is close enough together to produce priming and
subsequent hyperactivation of brain microglia. We have
seen that this can trigger a smoldering process of brain
inflammation and excitotoxicity that can not only result
in depression, anxiety and high suicide rates, but can
increase one’s risk of developing one of the neurodegenerative
diseases as well.
We have also seen that in many cases a person will be
injected with several vaccines during a single office
visit and that this means their body is exposed to a very
large dose of immune adjuvant. Compelling studies, using
many animal species as well as humans, have shown that
this overactivates brain inflammatory mechanism that can
last for years.
In addition, several additives to vaccines, such as mercury
and aluminum, are powerful brain toxins that are known
to accumulate in the brain over years and can trigger
brain inflammatory/excitotoxic mechanisms. Vaccine contaminants,
such as bacteria, mycoplasma and viral fragments can also
produce prolonged brain inflammation and neurodegeneration.
Because the elderly already have high levels of inflammatory
cytokines, they are at a special risk. The very young
(babies and small children) are at a high risk because
their brains are undergoing the most rapid development
at the very time they receive the greatest number of vaccinations
-- the first two years of life. In fact, they receive
22 vaccines during the first year of life, one of which
contains a full pediatric dose of mercury. Like adults,
they receive many inoculations (up to 9 inoculations)
in one office visit. This is insane and in my estimation,
criminal.
Nasal flu vaccines are even worse, because they introduce
a live virus into the nasal passages, which can then travel
along the olfactory nerves, which leads to the very part
of the brain first and most severely affected by Alzheimer’s
disease. A number of studies have shown that viruses and
bacteria can pass along this route to the brain. In fact,
in one study scientists sprayed a bacterium into the nose
of mice and observed a rapid development of Alzheimer’s
type plaques in the mouse’s brain.
So, what should older people do? First, studies have
shown that the primary cause of immune deficiency in the
elderly is purely dietary. The carotenoids, such as beta-carotene,
alpha-carotene, canthaxanthin, lutein and lycopene significantly
enhance the immunity of the elderly. Zinc, magnesium and
selenium are also essential. One should also avoid omega-6
oils (the vegetable oils-corn, safflower, sunflower, canola,
soybean and peanut oils), since they greatly enhance inflammation
and depress immunity. The EPA component of fish oils (omega-3
oils) is also a powerful immune suppressant. DHA is not.
A healthy immune system means that you can fight infections
efficiently and rapidly.
Regular exercise, such as brisk walking or weight exercises
three to five times a week also boost immunity, while
extreme exercise suppresses immunity. Sugar and refined
carbohydrates also suppress immunity and inflame the brain.
Exercise protects the brain from aging effects and from
degeneration.
Adequate sleep is also vital to both brain health and
good immune function. Pubic health officials and spokesmen
for the major medical societies are lying to the public
concerning vaccine safety. We now possess sufficient information
from a great number of studies to halt this disastrous
vaccine policy. We are facing a medial disaster in this
country, which is already well on its way.
